Judges Chapter 14

I remembered when we were young (which is some 45 over years ago), we pestered our mother to bring us to watch the movie “Samson and Delilah”, thinking that it was another biblical movie epic like “The 10 Commandments”.

Er…. I left the cinema thoroughly confused and bewildered. Was this the Samson I knew in RE Class? Yes, I knew that he did wrong in many things but to see it graphically depicted on screen was more than what my young mind could take it at that time.

Now years have passed and over the years, the actions of Samson – while still deplorable, are less shocking because we do see it happening all around us. And if we are not careful, we may be exactly like Samson.

Elder John warns us in this way:

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

~ 1 John 2:16 ~

And in this chapter, we see just how Samson demonstrates his failings in all these 3 aspects that lead to sin.

Lust of the Eyes

Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”

~ Judges 14:1-2 ~

Samson saw a woman in Timnah and demanded that his parents get her as his wife.

There was no discussion. No consideration.

Samson was ruled by his desire of what he saw and when he sees a woman that he wants, he will get her – no matter the consequence. And in so doing, he has forgotten his vow as a Nazarite to be separated and kept holy.

Lust of the Flesh

Samson killed a lion with his bare hands because the Spirit of the Lord was with him. Then …

After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. ⁹ He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.

~ Judges 14:8-9 ~

Samson saw the honey that was in the carcass of the lion. And he took some of it and ate.

Why did he take it? Did he not remember that as a Nazarite he was not to touch a dead body?

It did not matter to Samson. What he wanted, he took it. He was governed by the lust of his flesh – whatever the consequences would be.

Pride of Life

Obviously intoxicated by his wedding success, he made a riddle to challenge the Philistines – thinking that he was infallible and would be able to show that he was above them.

But his new wife pestered and pestered him and finally betrayed him and revealed the answer to the Philistines. This incurred the wrath of Samson and he killed even more people just to be able to give the reward to those people who ‘guessed’ the answer to his riddle.

And he gave his wife away!

So the successes that Samson had so far in his life made him proud and think that he will continue to be successful. But the very things that fulfilled his lust of the eyes and flesh – also caused his pride to fall.

But God Still Used Samson …

Since Samson is such a lousy person, even though he was specially chosen by God from birth, why was he still a judge? How could someone so bad be someone that God uses?

Samson was never one who was concerned about following God and doing His will.

God’s purpose for Samson was to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. And He accomplishes this, at times, by using the wrong and sinful choices that Samson made.

God will accomplish his plans. Samson will suffer the consequences of his sin.

What does that tell us today?

Even though God accomplishes His plan, there are still consequences for sin. 

So while we may be serving God and doing things in His household, let us also consider our lives outside of church. Do we live like Samson – governed by our lust of eyes, flesh and pride?

God may still use what we do to accomplish His will. But we will have to suffer the consequences of our sin.

Paul said,

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

~ Galatians 5:16 ~

Let us learn from the example of Samson today.

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